Officials Removed From List

The officials embroiled in the debacle at Ashton Gate yesterday have been removed from the appointments list pending further review.

Rob Shoebridge and his assistants Steve Rubery and Chris Knowles have been removed from their upcoming fixtures pending review.

This comes as Neil Warnock received an apology from referee chief Keith Hackett for not allowing Freddy Sears` strike despite the ball hitting the back of the net.

Shoebridge will no longer take charge of Plymouth Argyle v Cardiff City at Home Park on Tuesday night.

Hackett apologised to Neil Warnock and the Crystal Palace supporters for the blunder: 'You would first of hope they have spotted that particular incident. Under law, the fourth official is not allowed to assist in the process had he seen it.

'It is disappointing. I have spoken to Neil Warnock this morning and apologised to him on behalf of the match officials and, of course, the PGMOB, and I make a public apology to the players and also the spectators of Palace.

'They travel away, they spend a lot of money and it is very disappointing that when the ball does strike the net, it is ruled out and not given.'

Gary Johnson, the manager of Bristol City, defended his side`s innocence in the incident in the midst of being labelled cheats by Palace chairman Simon Jordan.

While admitting the ball had hit the back of the net from his view he was informed at the time that the goal had been disallowed for a previous infringement - something that has now been discounted.

Boxer,
The game will not be replayed. That precedent has already been set. Let's just hope that we get refs and assistants who are not blind and that clubs do the simple thing i.e. lagging the hard metal structures inside the goal to reduce the bounce and so make it clear that the ball came back off of something inside the goal. It's hardly rocket science.